Afghanistan registered their largest-ever victory margin in One-Day International (ODI) history by defeating Zimbabwe by 232 runs in the second match of the series on Thursday at Harare Sports Club. This comprehensive win has further solidified Afghanistan’s growing reputation in international cricket.
Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first, posting a competitive total of 286 runs for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Sadiqullah Atal starred with the bat, scoring a brilliant century, while Abdul Malik supported him with a well-made 84 runs. The two built a solid partnership, taking Afghanistan to a strong position. Zimbabwe’s bowlers struggled to contain the Afghanistan batsmen, with Newman Nyamhuri being the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets. Trevor Gwandu also made a significant contribution with the ball, taking two wickets.
In response, Zimbabwe’s batting collapsed in dramatic fashion, with the team being bowled out for just 54 runs in 17.5 overs—far from the 287-run target they needed. Only Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza managed to reach double figures, with Raza left stranded as the wickets tumbled around him. The Afghanistan bowlers were exceptional, especially Naveed Zadran and AM Ghazanfar, who each claimed three wickets, wreaking havoc on Zimbabwe’s batting lineup.
Afghanistan’s bowling attack, led by Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai with the new ball, was too much for Zimbabwe to handle. The seamers caused consistent problems, and the Zimbabwean batsmen struggled to cope with the movement, edging the ball into the slips. This collapse was reminiscent of Zimbabwe’s disastrous batting display in the first match, though it was arguably worse, with no real resistance offered.
Sadiqullah Atal was named Player of the Match for his outstanding century, which anchored Afghanistan’s innings. He expressed his happiness with the team’s performance, acknowledging that the wicket was challenging to bat on. Atal shared that he and Malik had discussed their approach to tackling the conditions, and despite feeling nervous while reaching his century, he took his time to build his innings.
This historic win marks a milestone for Afghanistan, who have proven themselves as a rising force in international cricket.